Game apparatus.



G. F. DORRE..

A GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION rILED sE1=T.14, 1909.

Patented. Feb. 1,1911).

2 SHEETS-SHBBT 1.

ENTER L 1&1' nsEnLLsY,

Mw FPI@ Mmmm. .mmv

ummm .www

' man nimm Mlmfl@ Wk/WWW WITNESS/ CS ANDREW a uhmm QD. PHOTO-UTHUQMMERS, wAsHmcoN, u c

C. P. DORB..

GAMB APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.14, 1909.

Mm Patented F@b.1, 1910,

2 SHEETS--SHBET 2.

REMMN REMRHI 00T BRLL SHPE SHYE HIT BV UME on su an zu Pncnm Rlnmu Rimini REHMN sur: ann: Hom: uns one!!!` Sfmkl REnmn Rmlm Mmm v FouL REHRWI Rinmn mmm Slcnlrlcl HIT 4NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAR/L F. IDOERR, OF YONKERS, NEW" YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.. 1, 1910.

Application led. September 14, 1909. Serial No. 517,590.

new and Improved Game Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

Theinvention relates to parlor games, and i itsobject is to provide a new and improved game apparatus, more especially designedfor playing baseball, and arranged to afford amusement to the players and onlookers and to Vrequire considerable skill on the part of the players to successfully play the game.

For the purpose mentioned use is made of a diamond shaped field surrounded by a ball runway, on which a ball is pitched by a player, the runway beginning and ending at the home plate.

A practical embodiment of the invention` is represented in the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure lois a plan view of the game apparatus as arranged for playing baseball' with nine or less persons on `each side; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the game apparatus as arranged for two players.

Cn a suitable vboard or table A is arranged a diamond-shaped field B, having marked thereon the irst, second and third bases and the home plate. The field B is surrounded by a ball runway C, beginning and ending at the home plate, and preferably inclined in a downward direction from the beginning of the runway to the end thereof, as indicated in Fig. 2. The bottom of the runway C is provided with ballretarding means C', C2, Ca and C4, preferably in the form of undulations or corrugations, as shown in Figs. l and 2, so that the ball D, propelled along the runway C is liable to stop at any one of the corru,g ,ations` C', C2, C3 and C4. Theball D is adapted to' be propelled. from the beginning of the runway C by `tlieuse of a bat E, extendingl horizontally and mounted on the free end of a; spring E attached to a standard E?, held on the table or board A. Thus when a player places a ball D in starting position at the beginning end of the runway C and then draws the bat E rearward and releases the same, then the bat E strikes the ball D `and sends the same with more or less force along the runway C until the ball nally comes to a stop on any one of the corrugations C', C2, `C3 and C4. The corrugations y C', C2, C3 and C4 are arranged opposite the sides of the eld B, and to the sides of the runway C lead alleys F, F', F2, called respectively first, second and third base alleys, as marked. in the drawings. The alleysl F, F', F2 are used for sending a ball along the alleys to a corresponding corrugation C2, C3, C". Along the outer sides of therunway C are arranged counting means, preferably in the form of cards, provided with rows of counting or indicating means, each row being opposite the bottom of a corresponding corrugation C', C2, C3 or Ci. `Thus when the ball D comes to rest in one of the corru gations, the proper value of the ball at this position is indispntably indicated in the corresponding opposing row. The indicating means G, G', G2 and G3, as shown in Fig. 1, arev arranged for use when the game is played with nine or less persons on each Side, while the indicating means G4, G5, G6, G7, shown in Fig. 3, are separate cards, which may be placed on top of the indicating means G, G', G2, G3, to cover the same, the said indicating means G4, G5, GG and G7 being arranged for use when the game is played by two players only. In this case, the ball D indicates the chances of the `batter and those of the men at bases. Thus when the batters ball D, for instance, stops on the seventh corrugation of the indicating means G5 opposite the words Strike, Cut, Remain, Remain, it means one strike for the batter, the man on iirst base, if one is there, is out and the men on sec ond and third bases remain, if any are on those bases.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3, the alleys F, F', F2 are not used by men on bases, and the advancing, removing orbeing out of men on bases is solely governed by the next batter up, and hence the indieating` means G4, G5, G and G7 make provisions for all the possible chances for men (n bases without the use of the alleys F,

The rules for playing the game are practically the same as those governing real baseball, and the game can be played by any number of persons up to nine on each side. InY ease there are less than nine persons on each side the players, if of even number, play even sides, and if of uneven number they arrange two sides.

1n connection withV the apparatus described, use is made of nine vbaseball playing figures, preferably of white color, and representing the home team, and nine baseball playing figures, preferably in blue, representing the opposing or visiting team.

Two such figures are shown in Fig. l at the first and third base, thus indicating that the team playing at the time has a man on first base and a man on third base. In Fig. 3 1s shown a baseball playing figure on the second base, thus indicating that the team playing at the time has a man 0n second base. Nine innings arel played. An inning is finished when three men of each side are declared out. Vhenever a player gets safe to home a run is scored, and the side which i at the end 0f the ninth inning has scored the most runs wins the game. ff there should be a tie at the end of the ninth inning, one or more innings are played until at the end of a full played inning one side is ahead and thus will be the winner of the game. Player No. l of the bluesor visiting team starts in to bat and bats until he places himself on base, or else is called out. Player No. 2 in blue then follows, ete., until three men are called out, at which time the home team starts in in the same manner. After every bat, the players on bases, if there are any,

run one after the other from the alleys F, F, F2, F3 corresponding with the bases on ywhich they are, eXeept however when the batter makes any kind of a hit. When this takes place, the players on bases advance the same number of. bases as the batters hitting calls for. Any player on base who is advanced by a man on base, does not run after being advanced. A ball from the batter which is batted out of the base run, is a foul strike. A ball from the batter coming back of the bat, is a foul caught by the catcher, and the batter is out.

The `eneral rules above given may, of course, e varied, but it is evidentV that by playing the game of baseballvin the manner and by the use of the apparatus as described considerable amusement is afforded to the playersand onlookers, and at the same time considerable skill is required on the part of the players to win the game.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A game apparatus,'comprising a field, a ball runway having ball retarding means and surrounding the said field, and batting means for propelling a ball along the said runway.

2. A game apparatus for playing baseball, comprising a diamond shaped field having the bases marked thereon, a ball runway surrounding the said field and beginning and ending at the home plate of the said eld, ball retarding means in the said runway, and batting means adjacent the said home plate for propelling a ball along the said runway.

3. A game apparatus for playing baseball, comprising a diamond shaped field having the bases marked thereon, a ball runway surrounding the said field, and alleys in alinement with the sides of the said field and leading into the said runway at the bases.

Lf. A game apparatus for playing baseball, comprising a diamond shaped field having the bases marked thereon, and a ball runway surrounding the said field and beginning and ending at the home plate of the said field, the said runway having ball-retarding means.

5. A game apparatus for playing baseball, comprising a diamond shaped field having the bases marked thereon, and a ball runway surrounding the said field and beginning and endinoV at the home plate of the said field, the said runway being inclined and provided with ball-retarding means.

6. A game apparatus for playing baseball, comprising a diamond shaped field having the bases marked thereon, and a ball runway surrounding the said field and beginning and ending at the home plate of the said field, the said runway being inclined downward from the beginning to the end thereof and the said runway having undulating ball-retarding portions.

7. A game apparatus, comprising a diamond shaped field having the bases marked thereon, a ball runway surrounding the said field, means for propelling a ball along the said runway, and counting means arranged along the outer sides of the said runway opposite the sides of the said field. 8. A game apparatus, comprising a dia mond shaped field having the bases marked thereon, a ball runway surrounding the said field, means for propelling a ball along the said runway, alleys leading to the sides of the said runway, and counting cards arranged along the outer sides of the said runway opposite the sides of the said field.

A 9. A game apparatus, comprising a diamond shaped field having the bases marked thereon, a bell runway surrounding the said name to this specification in the presence of ell1 anld hwfngbLH-retarding means along two subscribing Witnesses. eac sic e o me e d, and counting cards arranged along the outer sides of the said eld CARL F DOERR and having rows of counting means in Witnesses: ahnement with the said retmding means. THEO. G. HOSTER,

In testimony whereof I have signed my I PHILIP D. ROLLHAUS. 

